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State-Imposed Forced Labor: Why It Matters

This Black History Month, we explored prison labor in the U.S. today, its ties to chattel slavery and arguments for or against the practice. This is part 4 and closes the series with why having a discussion on state-imposed forced labor in the United

State-Imposed Forced Labor: History of Prison Labor in the U.S.

The current structure of the criminal justice system and state-imposed forced labor in the United States are deeply rooted in the legacies of slavery and the aftermath of the Civil War. The timeline below details pivotal policies and milestones since

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place - the Fate of Putumayo’s Children

Up until now (access my previous blogs here), I have talked about the factors leading to the recruitment of child soldiers. I have offered aspects about a child’s socio-economic status, gender, violence within the family, proximity to the operations

Raised by ISIS, Child Soldiers of the Islamic State

It’s nearly impossible to watch the news for 15 minutes and not hear some sort of mention of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). The subject of the radical terror group has completely dominated discourse across any media outlet – left or right –

Forced Marriage

Forced marriage can be coupled with other forms of slavery. Children who are trafficked for sex may also be sold into forced marriages. An adult who is forcibly married may then be trafficked for labor or sex by and for the financial gain of his or h

Forced Labor in Fishing Boats

“I was born into poverty. I tried to study and go to school. After that, I tried to receive work and earn an income. So, I applied to a Thai company. I didn’t know I was going to be trafficked. For two years, I worked in the Thai company’s boats in B

ISIS, Yazidis and Crimes of Sex Trafficking in Iraq

You’ve certainly heard about the terror in Iraq during the last month with reports of 200,000 Iraqis fleeing for their lives as a radical Islamic terrorists attack, kill and rape tens of thousands. In addition to the obvious human rights abuses, we’r

State-Imposed Forced Labor: The U.S. Prisoners Fighting Fires or Making Products for the Consumer Market

The 13th amendment is cited as the document that abolished slavery in the United States. However, a provision in the clause permits the use of prison labor. This Black History Month, we’ll explore the years following the passage of the amendment and

Forced Labor in Tomato Fields - Fair Food Program

Each day tomato farm workers in the U.S. are subject to many forms of labor abuse, including slavery. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers stood up to fight these abuses and founded an organization that is changing the industry. To learn more about th

History of Sex Trafficking in Moldova

Moldova is a small country surrounded by Romania and Ukraine. This former Soviet republic was known for its agricultural production, as the breadbasket of the USSR. Today, Moldova is regarded as the poorest country in Europe. Moldova is primarily a s